In-plane switching type liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substrates subjected to an aligning treatment in mutually parallel but opposite directions, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates, a first electrode bent into a “&lt;” shape, and a second electrode formed via an insulating film with the first electrode. The first electrode comprises one linear section and another linear section that extend in directions that intersect the alignment treatment direction at different angles, a bent section that is provided at each end where the one linear section and the other linear section adjacent to each other and that extends in a direction that intersects the alignment treatment direction at an angle that is greater than each of the intersecting angles of the one linear section and the other linear section and the alignment treatment direction with respect to the alignment treatment directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device thatcontrols the orientation of liquid crystal molecules using a transversalelectric field.

2. Description of the Related Art

Known liquid crystal display devices include an In-plane Switching (IPS)type liquid crystal display device that controls the orientation ofliquid crystal molecules using an electric field parallel to thesubstrates that constitute the liquid crystal display device.

This liquid crystal display device comprises a pair of substratesarranged opposite each other at a predetermined gap, having beensubjected to an aligning treatment in mutually parallel but oppositedirections on each of the mutually opposed inner surfaces and, in thegap therebetween, a liquid crystal layer interposed substantially inparallel with the substrate surfaces, with the long axes of the liquidcrystal molecules aligned in the direction of the aligning treatment. Apixel electrode in which a plurality of bent electrodes long and narrowin shape is formed in parallel at a distance from one another in apredetermined area for forming a single pixel is provided on the innersurface of one of the substrates of the pair of substrates, and anopposing electrode for generating an electric field that changes theorientation of the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules between theplurality of electrodes of the pixel electrode to an orientation that issubstantially parallel to the substrate surfaces when voltage is appliedbetween the opposing electrode and the pixel electrode is provided onthe other substrate, in isolation from the pixel electrode.

This In-plane Switching (IPS) type liquid crystal display devicegenerates an electric field parallel to the substrates that correspondsto display data between the pixel electrode and the opposing electrode.When an electric field is applied parallel to the substrate, theIn-plane Switching (IPS) type liquid crystal display device controls onan inner surface substantially parallel with the substrate surfaces theorientation of the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules of aplurality of pixels comprising an area corresponding to the pixelelectrode and opposing electrode, and displays an image.

Now, in the In-plane Switching (IPS) type liquid crystal display device,as described in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI PublicationNo. 2002-182230, the plurality of bent electrodes of the first electrodeis formed into a shape bent into a “<” shape to decrease the viewingangle dependability of the display and achieve a display having a wideviewing angle. That is, the orientation of the electric field parallelto the substrates that is generated between the opposing electrode andone of the electrodes of the two sections on either side of the bentsection of the “<” shape, and the orientation of the electric fieldparallel to the substrates that is generated between the other linearsection and the second electrode are made to differ from each other.With such an arrangement, the pixel electrode is formed so that theliquid crystal molecules are arranged in two different directions withineach pixel.

However, in the In-plane Switching (IPS) type liquid crystal displaydevice in which the plurality of electrodes of the first electrode areformed into a shape that is bent into a “<” shape, the problem arisesthat, when a strong electric field parallel to the substrates isgenerated, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules within eachpixel becomes non-uniform and, as a result of these pixels, displayunevenness occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises:

a pair of substrates arranged opposite each other at a predeterminedgap, having been subjected to an aligning treatment in mutually paralleldirections on each of the mutually opposed inner surfaces;

a liquid crystal layer interposed in the gap between the pair ofsubstrates and arranged substantially in parallel with the surfaces ofthe substrates, with the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule inalignment with the direction of the aligning treatment;

a plurality of first electrodes provided on one of the mutually opposedinner surfaces of the pair of substrates, comprising one linear sectionand another linear section that extend in directions that intersect thedirection of the aligning treatment at different angles in eachpredetermined region for forming a single pixel, a bent section that isprovided at each end where the one linear section and the other linearsection adjacent to each other and that extends in a direction thatintersects the direction of the aligning treatment at an angle greaterthan each of the intersecting angles of the one linear section and theother linear section and the direction of the aligning treatment withrespect to the direction of the aligning treatment, and a connectionsection that connects these bent sections;

and a second electrode that is arranged in isolation from the firstelectrode on the inner surface of the one substrate, and that generateswith the first electrode an electric field parallel to the substratesfor changing the orientation of the long axes of the liquid crystalmolecules to within a plane that is substantially parallel with thesurfaces of the substrates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view that shows a section of one substrate of a liquidcrystal display device according to an example of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that shows a cross-section of theliquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1 cut along line II-II;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing an enlarged section of the pixelelectrode and opposing electrode of the liquid crystal display deviceshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view shown an enlarged one bent electrode ofthe pixel electrode of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlargedcross-section of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1 cutalong line V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the orientation of the liquid crystalmolecules of each section within one pixel when an electric fieldparallel to the substrates is generated between the pixel electrode andopposing electrode;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlargedcross-section of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1 cutalong line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlargedcross-section of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1 cutalong line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a plan view that shows a comparison example where a pluralityof bent electrodes of the pixel electrode are formed into a “<” shapewhere two electrode sections directly connect, and shows the orientationof the liquid crystal molecules of each section within one pixel when anelectric field parallel to the substrates is generated between the pixelelectrode and opposing electrode;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlargedcross-section of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 9 cutalong line X-X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlargedcross-section of the comparison example shown in FIG. 9 cut along lineXI-XI of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 illustrate an example of the present invention. FIG. 1is a plan view showing a section of one substrate of a liquid crystaldisplay device, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing across-section of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1 cutalong line II-II.

This liquid crystal display device, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,comprises a pair of transparent substrates 1 and 2 arranged oppositeeach other at a predetermined gap on an observed side (upper side inFIG. 2) and a side opposite that side, and a liquid crystal layer 3interposed in the gap between the pair of substrates 1 and 2. First andsecond transparent electrodes 4 and 5 for generating an electric fieldthat is substantially parallel to the surfaces of the substrates 1 and 2when voltage is applied are formed in isolation from each other on oneof the two mutually opposed inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 1and 2, such as on the inner surface of the substrate 2 of the sideopposite the observed side, for example. One of the plurality of firsttransparent electrodes 4 and the second transparent electrode 5 arearranged opposite each other, and a single pixel 100 that controls theorientation of the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules of theliquid crystal layer 3 is defined by the area where the electric fieldparallel to the substrates is generated between these electrodes. Thesepixels are arranged in plurality in a matrix shape. A pair of polarizingplates 19 and 20 of the observed side and the side opposite the observedside are disposed on the outer surface of the pair of substrates 1 and2.

Hereinafter, the substrate 1 of the observed side is referred to as the“front substrate,” the substrate 2 on the side opposite the observedside is referred to as the “back substrate,” the polarizing plate 19 ofthe observed side arranged on the outer surface of the front substrate 1is referred to as the “front side polarizing plate,” and the polarizingplate 20 of the opposite side arranged on the outer surface of the backsubstrate 2 is referred to as the “back side polarizing plate.”

The pair of substrates 1 and 2 are joined via a frame-shaped sealingmaterial (not shown), and the liquid crystal layer 3 is interposed inthe area of the gap between the pair of substrates 1 and 2 that isenclosed by the sealing material.

This liquid crystal display device is an active matrix display device.Of the first and second electrodes 44 provided in isolation from eachother on the inner surface of the back substrate 2, a first electrode 4is a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix shape in a rowdirection (horizontally on the screen) and a column direction(vertically on the screen). A second electrode 5 is an opposingelectrode arranged on a per row basis correspondingly to each pixelelectrode 4 of that row.

Then, a plurality of active elements 6 arranged correspondingly to theplurality of pixels 100, a plurality of scan lines 12 arranged per pixelrow comprising the plurality of pixels 100 arranged in the rowdirection, and a plurality of signal lines 13 arranged per pixel rowcomprising the plurality of pixels 100 arranged in the row direction areprovided on the inner surface of the back substrate 2.

The active element 6 comprises an input electrode 10 and a outputelectrode 11 of a signal, and a control electrode 7 that controls theconduction between the input electrode 10 and the output electrode 11.The control electrode 7 is connected to the scan line 12 at each row,the input electrode 10 is connected to the signal line 13 at eachcolumn, and the output electrode 11 is connected to the pixel electrode4.

The active element 6 is, for example, a TFT (thin film transistor), andcomprises a control electrode (gate electrode) 7 formed on the surfaceof the back substrate 2, a transparent gate insulating film 8 formed onroughly the entire surface of the back substrate 2 covering the controlelectrode 7, an i-type semiconductor film 9 formed opposite the controlelectrode 7 on the gate insulating film 8, and a input electrode (drainelectrode) 10 and output electrode (source electrode) 11 provided via ann-type semiconductor film (not shown) on both side sections of thei-type semiconductor film 9 hereinafter, the active elements 6 isreferred to as “TFT”.

Each of the plurality of scan lines 12 is formed on the surface of theback substrate 2 along one side (the bottom side in FIG. 1) of eachpixel row in parallel with the pixel row, respectively connected to thegate electrode 7 of the TFT 6 of each row. Each of the plurality ofsignal lines 13 is formed along one side (the left side of FIG. 1) ofeach pixel column in parallel with the pixel column above the gateinsulating film 8, respectively connected to the drain electrode 10 ofthe TFT 6 of each column.

The terminal alignment section (not shown) extending toward the outsideof the front substrate 1 is formed on the border of the back substrate2, and the plurality of scan lines 12 and the plurality of signal lines13 are connected to a plurality of scan line terminals and signal lineterminals provided on the terminal alignment section.

Then, the plurality of pixel electrodes 4 is formed above a transparentinterlayer insulating film 14 formed on the front surface (not shown) ofthe back substrate 2, covering the plurality of TFT 6 and signal lines13, and the opposing electrode 5 is formed above the gate insulatingfilm 8. That is, the opposing electrode 5 is positioned farther towardthe back substrate 2 side than the plurality of pixel electrodes 4, inisolation from the plurality of pixel electrodes 4 by the interlayerinsulating film 14.

Each of the plurality of pixel electrodes 4 is formed in, for example,each region of a vertically long rectangular shape having a greaterheight along the vertical direction than the width along the horizontaldirection of the screen, in a predetermined region for forming a singlepixel 100, and comprises a first transparent conductive film (ITO film,for example) 40 that is formed in parallel with and at a distance from aplurality of bent electrodes 41 long and narrow in shape, having alength extending across roughly the entire length in the heightdirection of the region.

The plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 is formedby providing a plurality of slits in the first conductive film 40. Then,these bent electrodes 41 are connected to common connection sections 45a and 45 b formed on both end borders of the first conductive film 40,at the respective ends.

Then, one end side of the common connection section 45 b of one endborder (bottom end border of FIG. 1) of the first conductive film 40overlaps the source electrode 11 of the TFT 6 via the interlayerinsulating film 14. This first conductive film 40 is connected to thesource electrode 11 in a connecting hole (not shown) provided on theinterlayer insulating film 14.

The opposing electrode 5 is provided on a per pixel row basis across thetotal length thereof, and comprises a second transparent electrode film(for example, ITO film) 50 formed into a shape corresponding to theentire area of the plurality of pixels 100 of each row.

The second conductive film 50, as shown in FIG. 1, is patterned, forminga vertically long, rectangular opposing section 51 corresponding to thepixel shape in each area respectively corresponding to the plurality ofpixels 100 of each row. Then, these opposing sections 51 are formed intoa shape connected by the common connection section 52 of the side (thetop end of the pixel 100 in the figure) opposite the side where the scanline 12 is established.

The second conductive film 50 may also be formed to a widthcorresponding to the height of the pixel 100, covering the entire lengthof the pixel row. With this arrangement, the second conductive film 50is formed across the top of the plurality of signal lines 13, and theintersecting section of the second conductive film 50 and the signalline 13 is insulated by an insulating film (not shown) covering thesignal line 13.

Then, the plurality of second conductive films 50 respectivelycorresponding to each pixel row is commonly connected (not shown) on theoutside of the display region where the plurality of pixel electrodes 4is arranged. Further, the common connection section of the secondconductive film 50 is connected to an opposing electrode terminalprovided on the terminal alignment section of the back substrate 2.

The opposing electrode 5 comprising the second conductive film 50generates an electric field parallel to the substrates that changes theorientation of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule 3 a to anorientation substantially parallel with the surfaces of the substrates 1and 2, between the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixelelectrode 4 when voltage is applied between the opposing electrode 5 andthe pixel electrode 4.

On the other hand, a light shielding film 15 corresponding to theplurality of TFT 6 and the areas between the plurality of pixels 100 isformed on the inner surface of the front substrate 1. Color filters 16R,16G, and 16B of the three colors red, blue, and green are providedcorrespondingly to the respective plurality of pixels 100, on the lightshielding film 15.

Furthermore, horizontal alignment films 17 and 18 of a polyimide film,etc., that align the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the liquid crystallayer 3 so that its long axis is substantially parallel with thesurfaces of the substrates 1 and 2, are formed on the inner surface ofthe front substrate 1, respectively covering the color filters 16R, 16G,and 16B provided on the front substrate 1 and the plurality of pixelelectrodes 4 provided on the back substrate 2.

Then, the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 1 and 2 are eachsubjected to an aligning treatment in mutually parallel but oppositedirections by rubbing the film surfaces of the alignment films 17 and18, respectively, in predetermined directions.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing an enlarged section of the pixelelectrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged planview showing an enlarged bent electrode 41 of the pixel electrode 4.

In FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, 1 a indicates the aligning treatmentdirection of the inner surface of the front substrate 1 (rubbingdirection of the horizontal alignment film 17), and 2 a indicates thealigning treatment direction of the inner surface of the back substrate2 (rubbing direction of the horizontal alignment film 18), respectively.In this example, the vertical alignment film 17 of the inner surface ofthe front substrate 1 is aligned, via the aligning treatment, parallelto the vertical direction of the screen, from the bottom to the top ofthe screen, and the vertical alignment film 18 of the inner surface ofthe back substrate 2 is aligned, via the aligning treatment, parallel tothe vertical direction of the screen, from the top to the bottom of thescreen.

Then, each of the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode4 is formed so that two linear sections 42 a and 42 b intersect thealigning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a, respectively, at differentangles, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Further, at the center of theunit region of the rectangular shape in the vertical direction, theplurality of bent electrodes 41 are formed so that they substantiallybend into a “<” shape connected at the section where the two linearsections 42 a and 42 b intersect. Then, in the section where the twolinear sections 42 a and 42 b connect, a bent section 43 a wherein theside connected to one linear section 42 a bends in a direction in whichthe incline angle with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 aand 2 a increases with respect to the one linear section 42 a, and abent section 43 b wherein the side connected to the other linear sectionbends in a direction in which the incline angle with respect to thealigning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a increases with respect to theother linear section 42 b are provided. The connection section thatconnects the bent sections 43 a and 43 b, which connect the two linearsections 42 a and 42 b, is formed in a circular arc shape where one sideborder and the other side border smoothly connect.

That is, the bent electrode 41 is formed from the two linear sections 42a and 42 b having first inclines that differ in incline orientation withrespect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a, and the bentsections 43 a and 43 b having second inclines with incline angles thatare greater than the first incline and differ in incline orientationwith respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a. Further,the bent electrode 41 is continually formed with the connection sectionwhere these bent sections 43 a and 43 b connect to each other.

The two linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the bent electrode 41 areformed at substantially the same width. The ratio of a distance D₁between the neighboring one linear sections 42 a and 42 a of the bentelectrode 41 to a width W₁ of the one linear section 42 a is set toD₁/W₁, and the ratio of a distance D₂ between the neighboring one linearsections 42 b and 42 b of the bent electrode 41 to a width W₂ of theother linear section 42 b is set to D₂/W₂, with each set to 1/3 to 3/1,preferably to 1/1.

Further, given an incline angle θa of the two linear sections 42 a and42 b of the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a, and anincline angle θb of the two bent sections 43 a and 43 b connecting thetwo linear sections 42 a and 42 b with respect to the aligning treatmentdirections 1 a and 2 a, θa and θb are set to:

0°<θa<20°

20°<θb<40°

Furthermore, given a length La of the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b,and a length Lb of the two bent sections 43 a and 43 b connecting thetwo linear sections 42 a and 42 b, the lengths La and Lb are set sothat:

La>nLb (n: 3 to 5)

10Lb>La>4Lb.

Further, end bent sections 44 a and 44 b respectively connected to thelinear sections 42 a and 42 b and bent in a direction where the inclineangles with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 aincrease with respect to the linear sections 42 a and 42 b arerespectively formed at the ends of the side opposite the end where thetwo linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the plurality of bent electrodes 41of the pixel electrode 4 adjacent to each other. Then, the connectingsections of these end bent sections 44 a and 44 b and the linearsections 42 a and 42 b are each formed into a circular arc where oneside border and the other side border smoothly connect.

Given an incline angle θc of the end bent sections 44 a and 44 brespectively formed at the ends of the two linear sections 42 a and 42 bwith respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a, θc is setto:

20°<θc<40°

Then, given a length Lc of the end bent sections 44 a and 44 b, thelength Lc with respect to the length La of the linear sections 42 a and42 b of the bent electrode section 41 is set to a value such that:

La<nLc (n: 3 to 5)

10Lc>La>4Lc.

That is, the end bent sections 44 a and 44 b of both ends of the bentelectrode 41 are formed at substantially the same incline angle andlength as the bent sections 43 a and 43 b connecting the two linearsections 42 a and 42 b.

The incline angle θa of the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b of theplurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 with respect tothe aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a is preferably set to5␣˜15␣(10°±5°), more preferably to 8␣␣12␣ (10°±2°) Further, the inclineangles θb and θc of the bent sections 43 a and 43 b connecting the twolinear sections 42 a and 42 b and the end bent sections 44 a and 44 bwith respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a arepreferably set to 25□˜35□ (30°±5°), more preferably to 30°±2°.

Of the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4, thelinear section 42 b of the side connected to the TFT 6 is formed to alength this is shorter than the linear section 42 b of the other bentelectrode 41, away from the region corresponding to a source electrode11 of the TFT 6.

The liquid crystal layer 3 comprises nematic liquid crystal havingpositive dielectric anisotropy and, in the initial state when anelectric field is not generated between the pixel electrode 4 and theopposing electrode 5, the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of this liquidcrystal layer 3 is aligned substantially parallel with the surfaces ofthe substrates 1 and 2, with its long axis in the aligning treatmentdirections 1 a and 2 a.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of a cross-section cut along line V-V ofFIG. 3. The liquid crystal molecule 3 a, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5,is aligned with its long axis in alignment with the aligning treatmentdirections 1 a and 2 a. The liquid crystal molecule 3 a is aligned withthe liquid crystal molecule end that is on the side toward the aligningtreatment directions 1 a and 2 a formed on the respective inner surfaceof each substrate pretilted away from the respective substrate. That is,the liquid crystal molecule 3 a is aligned substantially parallel to thesurfaces of the substrates 1 and 2.

Further, a transparent anti-static conductive film 21 of a single filmshape for blocking static electricity from outside is provided betweenthe front substrate 1 and a front side polarizing plate 19 arranged onthe outer surface thereof, across the entire surface of the frontsubstrate 1.

This liquid crystal display device generates an electric field parallelto the substrates that changes the orientation of the long axis of theliquid crystal molecule 3 a between the plurality bent electrodes 41 ofthe pixel electrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5 to substantiallyparallel with the surfaces of the substrate 1 and 2 by applying drivevoltage corresponding to display data between the pixel electrode 4 andthe opposing electrode 5 of the plurality of pixels 100. Then, theliquid crystal display device controls on a surface substantiallyparallel with the surfaces of the substrates 1 and 2 the orientation ofthe long axis of the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the plurality ofpixels 100 by this electric field parallel to the substrates, anddisplays an image.

The drive voltage applied between the pixel electrode 4 and the opposingelectrode 5 is controlled within the range of a minimum value ofsubstantially 0 at which the electric field parallel to the substratesis not generated, to a maximum value at which an electric field parallelto the substrates is generated at an intensity that aligns the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a of the pixel region where the pixel electrode 4 isarranged so that its long axis is substantially in the direction of 45°with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a.

The liquid crystal display device of this example is, for example, anon-electrolytic black display type (hereinafter “normally black type”)in which the transparent axis of either the front side polarizing plate19 or the back side polarizing plate 20 is substantially parallel withor substantially orthogonal to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and2 a, and the transparent axis of the other polarizing plate issubstantially orthogonal to the one polarizing plate. Then, the displayof the pixel 100 turns black in non-electrolytic mode in which anelectric field parallel to the substrates is not generated between thepixel electrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5, that is, when the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a is aligned so that its long axis is in alignmentwith the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a, as shown in FIG. 3.Further the display of the pixel 100 becomes brightest when an electricfield parallel to the substrates of an intensity that aligns the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a so that its long axis is substantially in thedirection of 45° with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 aand 2 a is generated between the pixel electrode 4 and the opposingelectrode

FIG. 6 shows the orientation of the long axis of the liquid crystalmolecule 3 a of each section in a single pixel 100 when an electricfield parallel to the substrates of an intensity that aligns the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a so that its long axis is substantially in thedirection of 45° with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 aand 2 a is generated between the pixel electrode 4 and the opposingelectrode 5. FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of a cross-section cut alongline VII-VII of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of a cross-sectioncut along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, a transversal electric field E isgenerated between the section adjacent to the bent electrode 41 of theopposing electrode 5 and one side border (fringe) and the other sideborder of the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4.

This transversal electric field E is an electric field of a directionorthogonal to the side border of the plurality of bent electrodes 41 ofthe pixel electrode 4. The orientation of the liquid crystal molecule 3a is changed by the generation of the transversal electric field E to adirection in which the angle of its long axis with respect to theorientation of the transversal electric field E decreases.

Then, this liquid crystal display device is formed into a shape in whichthe plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 issubstantially bent into a “<” shape, and the two linear sections 42 aand 42 b respectively intersect the aligning treatment directions 1 aand 2 a of the inner surfaces of the pair of substrates 1 and 2 atsubstantially the same angle. As a result, the liquid crystal displaydevice, as shown in FIG. 6, can set different orientations for thetransversal electric field E generated between one linear section 42 aof the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 and theopposing electrode 5, and the transversal electric field E generatedbetween the other linear section 42 b of the bent electrode 41 and theopposing electrode 5. This enables formation of a region where theliquid crystal molecule 3 a is aligned in two different orientationswithin each pixel 100, thereby achieving a display having a wide viewwithout display view dependability.

Additionally, this liquid crystal display device provides in the sectionconnecting the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the plurality ofbent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 a bent section 43 a whereinthe side connected to one linear section 42 a bends in a direction inwhich the incline angle with respect to the aligning treatmentdirections 1 a and 2 a increases with respect to the one linear section42 a, and a bent section 43 b wherein the side connected to the otherlinear section 42 b bends in a direction in which the incline angle withrespect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a increases withrespect to the other linear section 42 b, and is formed into a shape inwhich these bent sections 43 a and 43 b connect at a connection section.As a result, even when a strong transversal electric field E that alignsthe liquid crystal molecule 3 a so that its long axis is substantiallyat or near the direction of 45° with respect to the aligning treatmentdirections 1 a and 2 a is generated between the pixel electrode 4 andthe opposing electrode 5, the liquid crystal molecule 3 a never tilts atan incline opposite the incline of the pretilt resulting from thealigning treatment.

That is, as shown in the comparative example of FIG. 9, with anelectrode of a “<” shape, the transversal electric field E generatedbetween one side border of the bent electrode 41 of the pixel electrode4 and the opposing electrode 5 and the transversal electric field Egenerated between the other side border of the other linear section 42 bof the bent electrode 41 and the opposing electrode 5 have mutuallyopposite orientations. Then, the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of thepixel electrode 4 is formed into a shape that bends substantially into a“<” shape with the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b respectivelyintersecting at opposite incline angles with respect to the aligningtreatment directions 1 a and 2 a.

The transversal electric field E generated between one side border ofone linear section 42 a of the bent electrode 41 of the pixel electrode4 and the opposing electrode 5, and the transversal electric field Egenerated between the other side border of the other linear section 42 bof the bent electrode 41 and the opposing electrode 5 are each anelectric field of an orientation that tilts the liquid crystal molecule3 a, which had changed orientation due to the transversal electric fieldE, to an incline opposite the incline of the pretilt resulting from thealigning treatment of the substrate inner surfaces (hereinafter oppositeelectric field).

With this arrangement, when a strong transversal electric field E isgenerated between the pixel electrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5,the force that tilts the liquid crystal molecule 3 a as a result of thetransversal electric field E acting on the liquid crystal molecule 3 abecomes stronger that the force (tilt orientation force of aligningfilms 17 and 18) that pretilts the liquid crystal molecule 3 a as aresult of the aligning treatment of the substrate inner surfaces. Inconsequence, the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the opposite electricfield generation region S1 along one side border of one linear section42 a of the bent electrode 41, and the liquid crystal molecule 3 a ofthe opposite electric field generation region S2 along the other sideborder of the other linear section 42 b tilt at an incline opposite theincline of the pretilt resulting from the aligning treatment of thesubstrate inner surfaces.

That is, when the transversal electric field E is a weak electric fieldthat changes the long axis orientation of the liquid crystal molecule 3a at a small angle with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 aand 2 a, the liquid crystal molecule 3 a changes in orientation whentilted in the incline direction of the pretilt resulting from thealigning treatment of the substrate inner surfaces, even in the oppositeelectric field generation area, due to the pretilt orientation force ofthe substrate inner surfaces. However, when the transversal electricfield E is a strong electric field that changes the orientation of thelong axis of the liquid crystal molecule 3 a at a large angle withrespect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a, the forceresulting from the electric field parallel to the substrates acts morestrongly on the liquid crystal molecule 3 a than the pretilt orientationforce of the substrate inner surfaces. As a result, the liquid crystalmolecule 3 a of the opposite electric field generation regions S1 and S2tilts at an incline opposite the incline of the pretilt resulting fromthe aligning treatment.

The opposite tilt of the liquid crystal molecule 3 a resulting from thistransversal electric field E (the tilt of the incline oppose the pretiltincline resulting from the aligning treatment of the substrate innersurfaces) appears from the section corresponding to the bending point ofthe “V” shape. Then, as the electric field parallel to the substrates Ebecomes larger, the opposite tilt region increases, becoming longeralong the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b.

FIG. 9 shows the orientation of the long axis of the liquid crystalmolecule 3 a of each section within one pixel 100 when an electric fieldparallel to the substrates of an intensity that aligns the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a near the linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the bentelectrode 41 of the pixel electrode 4 so that its long axis issubstantially in the direction of 45° with respect to the aligningtreatment directions 1 a and 2 a is generated between the pixelelectrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5 in a comparison example whereinthe plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 is formedinto a “<” shape where the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b directlyconnect. FIG. 10 shows a cross-section cut along line X-X of FIG. 9, andFIG. 11 shows a cross-section cut along line XI-XI of FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, in the comparative example in which theplurality of electrode sections 41 of the pixel electrode 4 is formedinto a “<” shape where the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b directlyconnect, when a strong electric field parallel to the substrates E isgenerated between the pixel electrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5,the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the region S1 along the right sideborder of the linear section 42 a of the upper side and the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a of the region S2 along the left side border of thelinear section 42 b of the upper side in FIG. 9 tilt at an inclineopposite (an incline in the direction away from the back substrate 2toward the upward left diagonal direction) the incline of the pretilt(the incline in the direction away from the back substrate 2 toward thedownward right diagonal direction when viewed from the molecular endside that appears in bold in the figure) resulting from the aligningtreatment of the substrate inner surfaces.

As a result, in this comparative example, when a strong electric field Eis generated between the pixel electrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5,the regions S1 and S2 where the liquid crystal molecule 3 a has been setto an opposite tilt (a tilt of an incline opposite the incline of thepretilt) and another region where an opposite tilt of the liquid crystalmolecule 3 a does not occur are created. In this comparative example,display non-uniformity occurs due to the difference in the tiltdirections of the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of these regions.

Contrary to this comparative example, the liquid crystal display deviceof the above-described example is formed into a shape in which the sideconnecting the section connecting the two linear sections 42 a and 42 bof the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 to onelinear section 42 a bends in a direction in which the incline angle withrespect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a increases withrespect to the one linear section 42 a. Further, the liquid crystaldisplay device is formed so that the side connecting to the other linearsection 42 b bends in a direction in which the incline angle withrespect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a increases withrespect to the other linear section 42 b. As a result, of the electricfields E parallel to the substrates between the pixel electrode 4 andthe opposing electrode 5, the transversal electric field E generatedbetween one side border and the other side border of the bent sections43 a and 43 b of the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixelelectrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5 (the electric fields in thedirection orthogonal to the side borders of the bent sections 43 a and43 b) has an intersecting angle with respect to the aligning treatmentdirections 1 a and 2 a that is smaller than that of the electric E fieldparallel to the substrates generated between one side border and theother side border of the linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the bentelectrode 41 and the opposing electrode 5, as shown in FIG. 6.

In this manner, the changed angle φb of the long axis orientation withrespect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 b of the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a of the regions along one side border and the otherside border of the bent sections 43 a and 43 b resulting from thetransversal electric field E is smaller than the changed angle φa of thelong axis orientation with respect to the aligning treatment directions1 a and 2 a of the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the regions along oneside border and the other side border of the linear sections 42 a and 42b. For this reason, the orientation restraining force of the alignmentfilm and the neighboring intermolecular force aligned by thisorientation restraining force act on the liquid crystal molecule 3 a ofthe regions along one side border and the other side border of the bentsections 43 a and 43 b more intensely than the force resulting from thetransversal electric field E. As a result, any change in the tilt angleof the liquid crystal molecule resulting from the transversal electricfield E is suppressed.

Further, because the discontinuity of the orientation of the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a of the region corresponding to the linear section42 b of the bottom side with the linear section 42 a of the upper sidedecreases in the figure of the bent electrode 41 since the bent sections43 a and 43 b are connected by a continuous curve, the change in thetilt angle of the liquid crystal molecule is suppressed.

As a result, even when a strong transversal electric field E that alignsthe liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the regions along the linear sections42 a and 42 b of the bent electrode 41 of the pixel electrode 4 so thatits long axis is substantially at or near the direction of 45° withrespect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a is generatedbetween the pixel electrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5, the longaxis orientation is changed in a state where the liquid crystal moleculeis tilted in the incline direction of the pretilt resulting from thealigning treatment, without the tilt of the liquid crystal molecule nearthe bent section reversing.

In consequence, a starting point for reversing the tilt of the liquidcrystal molecule 3 a of the regions along one side border and the otherside border of the linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the bent electrode41 never occurs in the section corresponding to the bending point of thebent electrode 41 of a “<” shape, as in the comparative example shown inFIG. 9 to FIG. 11.

Then, the connecting sections of the two bent sections 43 a and 43 b,which connect the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b, and the linearsections 42 a and 42 b are each formed into a circular arc shape whereone side border and the other side border smoothly connect. For thisreason, the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the respective regionscorresponding to the linear sections 42 a and 42 b achieves asubstantially continuous aligned state in the bent sections 43 a and 43b.

In this manner, even when a strong transversal electric field E thataligns the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the regions along the linearsections 42 a and 42 b of the bent electrode 41 of the pixel electrode 4so that its long axis is substantially at or near the direction of 45°with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a isgenerated between the pixel electrode 4 and the opposing electrode 5, asshown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, the liquid crystal display device achievesgood display quality without orientation non-uniformity in the regionscorresponding to the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixelelectrode 4.

Furthermore, in this liquid crystal display device, end bent sections 44a and 44 b respectively connected to the linear sections 42 a and 42 band bent in a direction in which the incline angle with respect to thealigning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a increases with respect to thelinear sections 42 a and 42 b are formed at the respective ends of thetwo linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the plurality of bent electrodes 41of the pixel electrode 4. As a result, a transversal electric field E ofan orientation having a smaller intersecting angle with respect to thealigning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a than the transversal electricfield E generated between one side border and the other side border ofthe linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the bent electrode 41 and theopposing electrode 5 is generated between one side border of the endbent sections 44 a and 44 b and the opposing electrode 5 as well.

That is, a changed angle φc of the long axis orientation with respect tothe aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a of the liquid crystalmolecule 3 a of the regions along one side border and the other sideborder of the end bent sections 44 a and 44 b resulting from thetransversal electric field E is smaller than the changed angle φa of thelong axis orientation with respect to the aligning treatment directions1 a and 2 a of the liquid crystal molecule 3 a of the regions along oneside border and the other side border of the linear sections 42 a and 42b. With such an arrangement, an opposite tilt resulting from thetransversal electric field E never occurs with the liquid crystalmolecule 3 a of either region along one side border or the other sideborder of the end bent sections 44 a and 44 b, thereby enabling theliquid crystal display device to change the long axis orientation at theincline of the pretilt resulting from the aligning treatment. Thus, theliquid crystal display device more effectively eliminates the oppositetilt of the liquid crystal molecule 3 a resulting from the transversalelectric field E.

Then, given an incline angle θa of the two linear sections 42 a and 42 bof the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 withrespect to the aligning treatment directions 1 a and 2 a, and an inclineangle θb of the two bent sections 43 a and 43 b connecting the twolinear sections with respect to the aligning treatment directions 1 aand 2 a, this liquid crystal display device defines θa and θb asfollows:

0°<θa<20°

20°<θb<40°

As a result, the liquid crystal display device eliminates morethoroughly the opposite tilt of the liquid crystal molecule 3 aresulting from the transversal electric field E.

Further, given a length La of the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b ofthe plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4, and alength Lb of the two bent sections 43 a and 43 b connecting the twolinear sections 42 a and 42 b, this liquid crystal display devicedefines La and Lb as follows:

La>nLb (n: 3 to 5)

10Lb>La>4Lb.

As a result, the liquid crystal display device amply exhibits anopposite tilt prevention effect on the liquid crystal molecule 3 aresulting from the bent section, and substantially diminishes the effecton the display of the region corresponding to the bent section.

Furthermore, this liquid crystal display device defines the inclineangle θc of the end bent sections 44 a and 44 b respectively formed atthe ends of the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b of the plurality ofbent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 with respect to the aligningtreatment directions 1 a and 2 a as:

20°<θc<40°

As a result, this liquid crystal display device eliminates morethoroughly the opposite tilt of the liquid crystal molecule 3 aresulting from the transversal electric field E.

Further, this liquid crystal display device defines the length Lc of theend bent sections 44 a and 44 b with respect to the length La of thelinear sections 42 a and 42 b of the bent electrode 41 as a value suchthat:

La>nLc (n: 3 to 5)

10Lc>La>4Lc.

As a result, the liquid crystal display device amply exhibits anopposite tilt prevention effect on the liquid crystal molecule 3 aresulting from the end bent sections 44 a and 44 b and substantiallydiminishes the effect on the display of the region corresponding to theend bent sections 44 a and 44 b.

In this liquid crystal display device, the incline angle θa of the twolinear sections 42 a and 42 b of the plurality of bent electrodes 41 ofthe pixel electrode 4 with respect to the aligning treatment directions1 a and 2 a is preferably set to 5□˜15□(10°±5°) more preferably to10°±2°. Further, the incline angles θb and θc of the bent sections 43 aand 43 b, which connect the two linear sections 42 a and 42 b, and ofthe end bent sections 44 a and 44 b with respect to the aligningtreatment directions 1 a and 2 a are preferably set to 25□˜35␣ (30°±5°),more preferably to 28␣˜32␣ (30°±2°). In this manner, the liquid crystaldisplay device eliminates more thoroughly the opposite tilt of theliquid crystal molecule 3 a resulting from the transversal electricfield E.

While the plurality of bent electrodes 41 of the pixel electrode 4 iscommonly connected at both respective ends in the above-describedexample, the plurality of bent electrodes 41 may be commonly connectedat one end (the end on the side connected to the TFT 6).

Further, while the opposing electrode 5 is formed in a shapecorresponding to the entire area of the pixel 100 in the above-describedexample, the opposing electrode 5 may correspond to at least the areabetween the plurality of bent electrodes 41 and 41 of the pixelelectrode 4.

Furthermore, for the first and second electrodes provided in mutualisolation on the inner surface of the back substrate 2, the liquidcrystal display device of the above-described example employs aplurality of pixel electrodes 4 aligned in a matrix shape as the firstelectrode on the side of the liquid crystal layer 3, and the opposingelectrode 5 as the second electrode farther toward the side of the backsubstrate 2. However, the liquid crystal display device may converselyemploy an opposing electrode as the first electrode on the side of theliquid crystal layer 3, and a plurality of pixel electrodes formed intoa matrix shape as the second electrode farther toward the side of theback substrate 2. In this case, the liquid crystal display device mayform a plurality of bent electrodes on the opposing electrode, and formthe pixel electrode into a shape that corresponds to the entire pixelarea or that corresponds to the area between the plurality of bentelectrodes of the opposing electrode.

Further, while the first and second electrodes are provided on the innersurface of the back substrate 2 in the above-described example, thefirst and second electrodes may be provided on the inner surface of thefront substrate 1.

As described above, the liquid crystal display device of the presentinvention comprises a pair of substrates arranged opposite each other ata predetermined gap having been subjected to an aligning treatment inmutually parallel directions on each of the mutually opposed innersurfaces; a liquid crystal layer interposed in the gap between the pairof substrates and arranged substantially in parallel with the surfacesof the substrates, with the long axis of the liquid crystal moleculealigned in the direction of the aligning treatment; a plurality of firstelectrodes that are provided on one of the mutually opposed innersurfaces of the pair of substrates and comprise, in each predeterminedregion for forming a single pixel, one linear section and another linearsection that extend in directions that intersect the aligning treatmentdirection at different angles, a bent section that is provided at eachend where the one linear section and the other linear section adjacentto each other and that extends in a direction that intersects thealigning treatment direction at an angle greater than the respectiveintersecting angles of the one linear section and the other linearsection and the aligning treatment direction with respect to thealigning treatment direction, and a connection section that connectsthese bent sections; and a second electrode that generates with thefirst electrode a transversal electric field for changing theorientation of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule within aplane substantially parallel to the surfaces of the substrates.

In this liquid crystal display device, the first electrode preferablycomprises a plurality of linear sections long and narrow in shape thatare formed in parallel at a distance from each other, and connects toeach pixel on at least one end of the linear section. Further,preferably a plurality of slits for forming the plurality of linearsections is formed on a transparent conductive film having an areacorresponding to a predetermined region for forming a single pixel, andthe first electrode is formed from a transparent conductive film otherthan the transparent conductive film removed as a result of theplurality of slits. Furthermore, preferably the first electrode formstwo regions for aligning the long axes of the liquid crystal moleculesin two different orientations, a first orientation and a secondorientation, when an electric field is applied between the firstelectrode and the second electrode, and one linear section of the firstelectrode is formed in one of these two regions, and the other linearsection of the first electrode is formed in the other of the tworegions. Then, the side border of the connection section of the firstelectrode is preferably formed into a continuous curved surface.

Further, in this liquid crystal display device, the second electrode ispreferably arranged in isolation from the first electrode, between thefirst electrode of the one substrate and the one substrate.

Furthermore, in the liquid crystal display device, given an inclineangle θa of the one linear section and the other linear section of thefirst electrode with respect to the aligning treatment directions, andan incline angle θb of each of the bent sections provided at the ends oftwo adjacent linear sections with respect to the aligning treatmentdirections, the incline angle θa of the linear section and the inclineangle θb of the bent section are preferably set to 0°<θa<20° and20°<θb<40°. Further, given a length La of one linear section and theother linear section of the first electrode, and a length Lb of the bentsection, the two lengths La and Lb are preferably set to La>n Lb (n: 3to 5) and 10Lb>La>4Lb.

Then, in the liquid crystal display device, preferably the firstelectrode forms an end bent section that is provided on at least the endof either the one linear section or the other linear section, inconnection to the linear section, on the side opposite the side wherethe ends adjacent to each other, and that bends in a direction in whichthe incline angle with respect to the aligning treatment directionsincreases with respect to the linear section. In this case, given anincline angle θc of the end bent section with respect to the aligningtreatment directions, the incline angle θc is preferably set to20°<θc<40°. Further, given a length La of the linear section and alength Lc of the end bent section, the length Lc of the end bent sectionis preferably set to La>nLc (n: 3 to 5) and 10Lc>La>4Lc.

Various examples and changes may be made thereunto without departingfrom the broad spirit and scope of the invention. The above-describedexample is intended to illustrate the present invention, not to limitthe scope of the present invention. The scope of the present inventionis shown by the attached claims rather than the example. Variousmodifications made within the meaning of an equivalent of the claims ofthe invention and within the claims are to be regarded to be in thescope of the present invention.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-263223filed on Sep. 27, 2006 and including specification, claims, drawings andsummary. The disclosure of the above Japanese Patent Application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a pair of substratesarranged opposite each other at a predetermined gap, having beensubjected to an aligning treatment in mutually parallel directions oneach of the mutually opposed inner surfaces; a liquid crystal layerinterposed in the gap between the pair of substrates and arrangedsubstantially in parallel with the surfaces of the substrates, with thelong axis of the liquid crystal molecule in alignment with the directionof the aligning treatment; a plurality of first electrodes provided onone of the mutually opposed inner surfaces of the pair of substrates,comprising, in each predetermined region for forming a single pixel, onelinear section and another linear section that extend in directions thatintersect the direction of the aligning treatment at different angles, abent section that is provided at each end where the one linear sectionand the other linear section adjacent to each other, and that extends ina direction that intersects the direction of the aligning treatment atan angle greater than each of the intersecting angles of the one linearsection and the other linear section and the aligning treatmentdirection with respect to the aligning treatment direction, and aconnection section that connects these bent sections; and a secondelectrode that is arranged in isolation from the first electrode on theinner surface of the one substrate, and that generates with the firstelectrode a transversal electric field that changes the orientation ofthe long axis of the liquid crystal molecule within a planesubstantially parallel to the surfaces of the substrates.
 2. The liquidcrystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrodecomprises a plurality of linear sections long and narrow in shape whichare formed in parallel at a distance from each other, and at leasteither one of one and the other linear sections in each pixel areconnected to each other at least one of ends thereof.
 3. The liquidcrystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality ofslits for forming the plurality of linear sections is formed on atransparent conductive film having an area corresponding to apredetermined region for forming a single pixel, and the first electrodeis formed from a transparent conductive film other than the transparentconductive film removed as a result of the plurality of slits.
 4. Theliquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the firstelectrode forms two regions for aligning the orientation of the longaxes of the liquid crystal molecules in two different orientations, afirst orientation and a second orientation, when an electric field isapplied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and onelinear section of the first electrode is formed in one of these tworegions, and the other linear section of the first electrode is formedin the other of the two regions.
 5. The liquid crystal display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is arranged betweenthe first electrode and the one substrate.
 6. The liquid crystal displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein a side border of a connectionsection of the first electrode is formed into a continuous curvedfringe.
 7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1,wherein, given an incline angle θa of one linear section and anotherlinear section of the first electrode with respect to an aligningtreatment direction, and an incline angle θb of the respective bentsections provided at the ends of the two adjacent linear sections withrespect to the aligning treatment direction, the incline angle θa of thelinear sections and the incline angle θb of the bent sections are setto:0°<θa<20°20°<θb<40°
 8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1,wherein, given a length La of one linear section and another linearsection of the first electrode, and a length Lb of the bent section, thetwo lengths La and Lb are set so that:La>nLb (n: 3 to 5)10Lb>La>4Lb.
 9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1,wherein the first electrode forms an end bent section that is providedon at least the end of either one linear section or the other linearsection, connected to the linear section, on the side opposite the sidewhere the ends adjacent to each other, and that extends in a directionthat intersects the direction of the aligning treatment at an anglegreater than each of the intersecting angles of the one linear sectionand the other linear section and the aligning treatment direction withrespect to the aligning treatment direction.
 10. The liquid crystaldisplay device according to claim 9, wherein, given an incline angle θcof an end bent section with respect to an aligning treatment direction,the incline angle θc is set to: 20°<θc<40°
 11. The liquid crystaldisplay device according to claim 10 wherein, given a length La of thelinear section and a length Lc of the end bent section, the length Lc ofthe end bent section is set to:La>nLc (n: 3 to 5)10Lc>La>4Lc.